New plans that will transform the former Bangour Village Hospital site are set to be drawn up by a team of land developers.
NHS Lothian has appointed property advisers GVA James Barr to develop a masterplan for the future use of the Bangour site.
Bangour, which adjoins the village of Dechmont, stopped operating as a hospital site in 2000 when the last of NHS Lothian’s services relocated.
A Proposal of Application Notice was submitted to West Lothian Council and a number of community consultation events will take place over the next three months.
The first public event is scheduled to take place at the Dechmont Community Hall on Friday February 6 and it is hoped these events will help to gather views to shape the site.
A formal application for Planning Permission in Principle will be submitted to West Lothian Council by GVA James Barr on behalf of NHS Lothian later this year.
Alex McMahon, director of strategic planning, performance reporting and information with NHS Lothian said: “We carried out a thorough selection process and are delighted to have appointed GVA James Barr to take this exciting project forward.
“We are in the initial planning stages of a process which could see the currently desolate Bangour site transformed into a thriving new community.
“We have attempted to market this site previously and hope that this new approach will enable us to find the most appropriate use for a very unique and beautiful site in West Lothian.”
The buildings at Bangour are protected by the entire site’s designation as a Conservation Area. Some of the buildings are also listed and the mature woodland setting is protected by a Tree Preservation Order.
Historic Scotland, West Lothian Council, The Princes Regeneration Trust and others are fully engaged with NHS Lothian in taking the site forward.
Peter Carus, principal planner, planning, development and regeneration, GVA James Barr said: “This is a fantastic opportunity and we are delighted to have been appointed to be part of the Bangour Project.
“The special history of Bangour is apparent and we look forward to consulting and engaging with the local community and other parties as the project progresses in 2015.
“We will consult extensively before finalising any ideas and proposals for the site which we would then intend to formalise in a planning application for Planning Permission in Principle to be submitted to West Lothian Council in the summer of 2015.”